For the second day in a row, the Carpinteria boys tennis team won a 9-9 match Friday on a close margin of total games won, this time against Santa Barbara.
After the singles and doubles sets split at nine each, the game tally favored the Warriors, 76-69.
As the match progressed, both teams realized the importance of each game.
“Each team realized what was at stake, and they all upped their gamesl. That included some very exciting exchanges,” Carpinteria coach Charles Bryant said. “You could almost feel the tension — and that was on the sidelines.
“But just a great effort and a never-say-die attitude by our boys. This match seemed to be more of a physical match versus (Thursday, against Nordhoff), which seemed more on the mental side. We had to grind out long points and handle the heavy spin and power of the Dons’ groundstrokes.”
The Warriors got set sweeps from the doubles team of Max Stone and Connor Gralewski, paired for the first time this year, and No. singles player Austin Stone.
“It was a great win for our program, as I don’t think we have ever beaten Santa Barbara before in boys tennis,” Bryant said. “And to have two very close wins in two days really showed what this team is made of. I am very proud of all their efforts!”
Carpinteria is now 10-4 overall and still 4-1 in the Citrus Coast League.